In order to help you understand the results of your EMMA test, information on organisms and/or mycotoxins found are described below along with links to reference sources.
Note: Spore counts from A. versicolor, S. chartarum, C. globosum, Wallemia sebi and A. penicilloides can be used to calculate the HERTSMI-2 score(http://www.survivingmold.com/diagnosis/hertsmi-2)
Mycotoxins: World Health Organization (WHO) in its publication: Mycotoxins: Children’s Health and the Environment defines mycotoxins as “Natural products produced by fungi that evoke a toxic response when introduced in low concentrations to higher vertebrates by a natural route.” Note: There is no definition of what “low concentration” means. Also, humans are “higher vertebrates” and inhalation is a “natural route” http://www.who.int/ceh/capacity/mycotoxins.pdf
Aflatoxins: NIH, National Cancer Institute web site: “Which cancers are associated with exposure to aflatoxins? Exposure to aflatoxins is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer.” https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/aflatoxins
Ochratoxins:U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 14th Report on Carcinogens (RoC) lists Aflatoxin as “Known to be a Human Carcinogen” and Ochratoxin A as “Reasonably anticipated to be Human Carcinogen”. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/listed_substances_508.pdf
Gliotoxin: Gliotoxin is an immunosuppressive mycotoxin long suspected to be a potential virulence factor of Aspergillus fumigatus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2043361/
Trichothecenes: CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Case Definition: Trichothecene Mycotoxin states: “The trichothecene mycotoxins are a group of toxins produced by multiple genera of fungi.” They later state: “Systemic symptoms can develop with all routes of exposure (especially inhalation) and might include weakness, ataxia, hypotension, coagulopathy and death.” https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/trichothecene/casedef.asp
Mycophenolic Acid: Mycophenolic Acid: Use during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of pregnancy loss and congenital malformations. Females of reproductive potential must be counseled regarding pregnancy prevention and planning. Increased risk of development of lymphoma and other malignancies, particularly of the skin, due to immunosuppression. Increased susceptibility to bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infections, including opportunistic infections.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0045948/#DDIC603035.side_effects_section
Sterigmatocystin: Sterigmatocystin is carcinogenic in mice (pulmonary adenocarcinomas) and rats (hepatocellular carcinomas at milligram doses of sterigmatocystin per animal per day for 1 year) following oral administration and is classified as an International Agency for Research on Cancer class 2B carcinogen (i.e., as possibly carcinogenic to humans) http://aem.asm.org/content/68/8/3886.full
Chaetoglobosins: Chaetomium globosum, the most common species within this genus, produces chaetoglobosins A and C when cultured on building material. Relatively low levels of these compounds have been shown to be lethal to various tissue culture cell lines. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17551849
Recent Comments